5 Game-Changing Tips For An Organized Crawl Space
Happy December! I’ve been decorating for Christmas this week, so I’ve been down in our basement crawl space more than usual. And all I could think about is how difficult it can be to maintain an organized crawl space. Between the low lighting and limited accessibility, it’s the easiest space in the home to forget or neglect. But I’ve got a few tips that have helped me transform my crawl space, and I’m sure they can do the same for you. So if your crawl space gives you the heeby-jeebies, buckle up: this one’s for you.
Why Is An Organized Crawl Space Important?
Let me start by assuring you that I don’t believe you have to have every corner of your house organized. It is actually very strategic to focus your organization efforts on the places in your home that matter the most. (See my blog post or Reel about a “Monica closet”!) And the basement, crawl space, attic, or whatever storage space you have is an easy pass. It’s not used very frequently, and it’s not often seen by other people. So not only is it okay to neglect it, but I would argue it can be strategic to not waste your time being a perfectionist about this space.
However, as always, it’s a balancing act. Storage spaces still support your home. If you keep things down there that you need to use, then you need to be able to find them easily. There is a difference between organizing a space enough to be functional and being a perfectionist. So while I don’t want you to waste your time in your storage space, I do still think it’s important to address it every once in a while.
This brings me to my practical recommendations for an organized crawl space… These are the 5 tips I recommend to minimize your effort and maximize your impact. Because you should be able to find what you need when you need it.
5 Tips For An Organized Crawl Space
1. Add carpet scraps to your crawl space.
One of the biggest problems with a crawl space is that you don’t want to crawl in it. And if you’re not going to enter the space, it’s pretty difficult to keep it organized. To mitigate this issue, we added carpet scraps to our crawl space. This makes it so much more comfortable to crawl in, but it’s also easy to remove or replace the carpet if it gets gross. Our storage boxes also slide easily across the carpet, which makes it easier to move things around in the crawl space.
2. Put everything in boxes.
Speaking of boxes, solid storage boxes are essential for a crawl space. Appropriate containers allow you to create and maintain categories (see Step 4 of Organizing 101). Sturdy containers are also important in a crawl space because they protect the items from moisture, dust, and—heaven forbid—pests.
Based on my research, I think the best quality and price combination for sturdy storage containers is the 66-qt Sterilite latch storage boxes from Target. I’m also a fan of Moving Bags/Storage Totes for lightweight items because the handles make it easier to carry.
3. Make sure everything is labeled.
It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be labeled.
If you could only label one area of your house, I would always recommend that it be your storage space. You interact with your things in storage so much less frequently than the rest of your house, so you won’t remember what is what, even if the box is clear. Labeling also helps hold you accountable to your categories, and it helps other people follow the system.
Again, it doesn’t have to be fancy… I keep index cards, a Sharpie, and tape right by the entrance to my crawl space. Consistency over perfection.
4. Create zones.
The next logical step to organize your crawl space is to create zones. We have 4 main zones: holiday/seasonal, baby gear, toys, and memories. Each wall of the crawl space is a zone. I’m not a perfectionist about which box goes where, I just put them in the general space. So for example, I don’t know where the Halloween decorations are exactly, but I know which wall they’re on. Between that and the labels, it’s pretty fast and easy to find what I’m looking for.
5. Put items away in batch.
You can organize your crawl space all you want, but it’s only going to stay that way if you consistently put things away. And the truth is that it’s NOT EASY to put things away in a crawl space, since it involves climbing and crawling. I often just put things on the edge and tell myself that I’ll put them away later. But that’s real life. So instead of feeling bad about myself for this behavior, it makes more sense to create a system that embraces it…
To me, it seems like putting things away in the crawl space is the type of work that should be batched. You don’t have to do it every time you have something to put away, but every once in a while.
So I created a “put-away box.” It’s an empty box exclusively for items that need to be put away in the crawl space. We leave it on the ledge for quick, everyday access. So those items are contained, and labeled – because we know what step of the process they are in. When the box gets full, it’s time to crawl up and put things away in the right spot.
And BONUS: It works like a caddy for carrying everything at once when it’s time to put things away. It truly only takes me about 5 minutes to put away everything in 1 box, and it saves me 5-10 trips up into the crawl space if I batch the work.
What are your best tips for an organized crawl space? Am I forgetting anything? Feel free to contribute in the comments below!
Check out the rest of my organization blog posts for more content like this!
